Luke 23 25

Luke 23:25 kjv

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:25 nkjv

And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:25 niv

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:25 esv

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Luke 23:25 nlt

As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

Luke 23 verses

Luke 23 25 Meaning

This verse starkly portrays Pontius Pilate's capitulation to the will of the Jewish crowd. Despite finding no fault in Jesus, Pilate released Barabbas, a known insurrectionist and murderer, whom the people had specifically demanded. In a severe miscarriage of justice, Pilate then handed over Jesus, the innocent Christ, to be crucified according to the mob's insistent desire, prioritizing political appeasement over righteous judgment. This act cemented the tragic rejection of the Messiah and sealed His path to the cross.

Luke 23 25 Context

Luke 23:25 occurs at a pivotal moment in Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate. Prior to this verse, Pilate has repeatedly declared Jesus innocent (Lk 23:4, 14, 22), even sending Him to Herod Antipas who also found no capital offense (Lk 23:6-12). Pilate's intention was to release Jesus, likely offering the choice between Jesus and a notable prisoner, Barabbas, during the Passover custom (Lk 23:18-20). Barabbas, as described in Luke 23:19, was imprisoned for involvement in a city insurrection and murder, crimes that were significant threats to Roman order. The Jewish leaders, however, incited the crowd to demand Barabbas's release and Jesus' crucifixion (Lk 23:21). Despite Pilate's final attempts to persuade them otherwise, this verse records his ultimate surrender to the intense public pressure, resulting in the condemnation of an innocent man and the release of a guilty one. This decision directly precedes Jesus being led away to Golgotha, marking the tragic climax of human injustice and the beginning of the atoning sacrifice.

Luke 23 25 Word analysis

• And he released (ἀπέλυσεν - apelusen): From ἀπολύω, meaning "to release, set free, send away." Here, it signifies a judicial act of acquittal or pardon. The 'he' is Pilate, acting as the Roman governor. This act highlights the ironic reversal of justice: a powerful official setting free a violent criminal, while condemning an innocent man.
• unto them: Refers to the Jewish crowd and their leaders, emphasizing that this release was granted as a concession to their collective will.
• him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison: This describes Barabbas, whose full crimes are detailed in Lk 23:19.
  • sedition (στάσιν - stasin): A political uprising, rebellion, or insurrection. This was a serious offense under Roman law, punishable by death. Barabbas was a known rebel, posing a direct threat to Roman authority.
  • murder (φόνον - phonon): The act of killing, an equally grave crime. Barabbas's combination of sedition and murder paints him as a dangerous individual, a genuine threat to society.
  • cast into prison: Indicated that Barabbas was not merely accused but had been legally confined, likely awaiting execution.
• whom they had desired (ὃν αἰτοῦντο - hon aitounto): The Greek verb αἰτέω (aiteo) often means "to ask, demand, request." The imperfect tense indicates continuous or repeated demanding by the crowd. This emphasizes their active, fervent choice for Barabbas, and against Jesus.
• but he delivered Jesus (παρέδωκεν...τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν - paredoken...ton de Iēsoun): From παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi), "to hand over, betray, deliver up." This is a crucial verb in the Passion narrative, often associated with Judas's betrayal, but here used for Pilate's act. It signifies the formal surrender of Jesus to the Jewish authorities and executioners, sealing His fate.
• to their will (τῷ θελήματι αὐτῶν - tō thelēmati autōn): θελήματι means "will, desire, purpose." Pilate submitted to the capricious and malicious will of the crowd, rather than upholding justice or Roman law. This highlights his moral cowardice and the depth of the people's misguided and violent determination.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And he released unto them him that...whom they had desired: This entire clause details Pilate's first action. It highlights a governor's authority to grant clemency, which he misapplies. It also underscores the crowd's clear preference for a violent criminal, setting up a profound moral contrast with their rejection of Jesus. This release functions as a vivid illustration of substitution, where a condemned individual is freed at the expense of an innocent one.
• but he delivered Jesus to their will: This phrase presents the opposing and damning action. "Delivering Jesus" signifies a transfer of power, responsibility, and fate from Pilate's court to the will of Jesus' enemies. The use of "will" (θέλημα) here points to the raw, unreasoning desire of the crowd, manipulated by religious leaders, as the ultimate determinant of Jesus' judicial outcome, overriding Pilate's own stated findings of innocence. This act directly led to the crucifixion.

Luke 23 25 Bonus section

The name Barabbas (Βαραββᾶν) is intriguing. "Bar-Abbas" in Aramaic literally means "son of the father." The irony is striking: the crowd rejects the true Son of the Father, Jesus, God's only begotten Son, and chooses instead "the son of a father," a human sinner. Early textual traditions, found in some manuscripts, suggest Barabbas's first name might have been "Jesus," making the choice even more poignant: "Jesus Barabbas" vs. "Jesus the Christ." While not universally accepted as original, this possibility further underscores the deliberate, symbolic choice between two "Jesuses," one a criminal, the other the Savior. Pilate's action in this verse underscores a deep theological truth: in delivering Jesus to their will, the crowd effectively delivered Him to the Father's will, albeit unknowingly, as part of God's sovereign plan for atonement. The choice was not merely legal but cosmic, impacting the destiny of humanity.

Luke 23 25 Commentary

Luke 23:25 succinctly encapsulates a profound judicial perversion and a pivotal moment in salvation history. Pilate, a figure embodying human political expediency, abrogated his responsibility by bowing to popular pressure, despite repeatedly finding no guilt in Jesus. The choice presented was between Barabbas, a dangerous zealot who violently opposed Rome, and Jesus, who claimed a spiritual kingship. The crowd, incited by the religious authorities, demanded the release of the criminal and the crucifixion of the innocent Messiah. Pilate's act of "releasing" Barabbas and "delivering" Jesus was not an impartial legal judgment, but a morally bankrupt concession to prevent a riot (as seen in parallel accounts). This scene powerfully prefigures the substitutionary nature of Jesus' sacrifice: the guilty one (representing all humanity condemned by sin) goes free, while the innocent One suffers the just penalty. It demonstrates humanity's deep-seated inclination towards rebellion and sin, symbolized by the preference for Barabbas, and tragically highlights the cost of rejecting divine truth for worldly ambition or fear.